The Bassmaster Elite Series is the highest level of professional bass fishing tournaments. Competitors must qualify for the series through the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens or the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation, and anglers who are already on the Elite Series must re-qualify each year by maintaining enough points throughout the season. The pro anglers compete all season for the opportunity to win points toward the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.
The series was founded in 2006. Its predecessors were the Bassmaster Tour, Top 150 and Top 100.
The Latest
Lesson learned on St. Lawrence
We hear a lot about the mental part of professional fishing, and I can tell you that this is definitely true. That’s why I’m looking forward to our next tournament,...
Options abound for Elite Series event on St. Lawrence River
CLAYTON, N.Y. — While locals classify St. Lawrence Seaway vessels as salties (ocean-going ships) and lakers (those used solely for inland transit), a similar notation will divide the field of...
Daily Limit: Cory Johnston recovers from pneumonia with St. Lawrence in sights
After a pretty serious health bump, Cory Johnston is back on the trail chasing his first blue trophy along with some redemption on his home water. Johnston left the Pickwick...
Turning Japanese
I’ve covered a lot of major sporting events through the years, from the World Series to college football national championship games. So, it says a lot that I consider Bassmaster...
Heading north for practice
I recently headed north to start practicing for the Northern Bassmaster Open on Oneida Lake and then head directly to the St. Lawrence River for the next Bassmaster Elite Series...
One bad day
In fishing, there are good days and bad days. No matter if you’re fishing for fun or for dollars and points, there will be times when it seems nothing goes...
Radio: Hartman, Jocumsen and Jessie
Listen to the latest episode of Bassmaster Radio featuring Jamie Hartman, Carl Jocumsen and Kyle Jessie.
No longer fishing scared
I have to admit that my rookie Bassmaster Elite Series season did not start out the way I would have liked, but I’ve been able to turn it around just...
Time well spent with no regrets
What seems like yesterday has now been 19 years. At that time, I was completing my 13th year of service with the City of Carbondale Fire Department. I had risen...
Cox: No bass caught deeper than 4 feet this season
Calendar year 2022 is nearly half over, six of nine Bassmaster Elite Series events are in the books, and John Cox sits second in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the...
Daily Limit: With Big Mo, wins come in bunches
Jerry Reed didn’t have tournament bass fishing in mind when he sang, “When you’re hot, you’re hot,” but anglers certainly are in accord with that line. For years, pros have...
